Postoperative renormalization of C-reactive protein with adjuvant lienal polypeptide and its association with tumour recurrence in T1 clear cell renal cell carcinoma

OBJECTIVES To evaluate the effect of pre- and postoperative C-reactive protein (CRP) levels on tumour recurrence following curative nephrectomy in patients with stage T1 clear cell renal cell carcinoma (CCRCC). METHODS Patients with stage T1 CCRCC were recruited. CRP was quantified 3 days before and 4 weeks after surgery. Patients were followed-up for clinical outcome every 3 months. A subset of patients received lienal polypeptide as adjuvant treatment. RESULTS Patients with elevated preoperative CRP levels (≥8.2 mg/l; n = 61) had higher grade tumours, were more likely to require radical nephrectomy and were more likely to experience recurrence than those with normal CRP levels. Non-normalization of elevated preoperative CRP was associated with tumour recurrence, but elevated CRP was not an independent risk factor of tumour recurrence. CONCLUSION Postoperative renormalization of elevated CRP is associated with decreased risk of recurrence in CCRCC.